Video & Transcript : 'high hazard dams' :
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MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Education Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am
Joint Committee on Education
Transcript Highlights:
- I actually attended back-to-school night at my child's high school last week.
- The stakes are too high for inaction. Thank you. Thank you. Next is Betsy Draynan.
- Most of our high schools offer CS, but fewer than 1 out of 10 students are taking it.
- As I look through the student responses from my old high school, I find one from Hansani.
- Petersburg with a concert band of 70 high school students from Massachusetts.
Committee:
Joint Joint Committee on Education
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Education heard testimony on a wide range of bills, with the largest portions focused on the Healthy Youth Act (S.340/H.656), comprehensive and inclusive curriculum bills (H.655/S.371 and related measures), climate literacy education (H.560/S.391), computer science coursework (H.534/S.362), arts education funding and STEM-to-STEAM proposals (H.561 and H.4297), and a homeschooling reporting bill (H.518). Supporters of the Healthy Youth Act argued it would preserve local control while requiring medically accurate, age-appropriate, LGBTQ-inclusive sex education and regular updates to state health frameworks; opponents raised parental rights, age-appropriateness, and opt-out concerns, with some calling for fetal development content. Supporters of inclusive curriculum bills said they would improve representation, belonging, and civic understanding, while opponents argued they could undermine parental authority or promote ideological content. Climate, computer science, and arts advocates emphasized workforce readiness, student engagement, and the need for state support and funding to expand access and teacher training.
Testimony on the climate literacy bill described increasing climate impacts in Massachusetts and argued that interdisciplinary instruction would prepare students for science, policy, and green careers; witnesses said the bill was not a mandate but a support and funding measure. Computer science supporters said access remains uneven, especially for girls, students of color, and students with disabilities, and urged stronger statewide requirements and AI-related standards. Arts advocates backed both the STEM-to-STEAM bill and the Lowell Mason arts funding proposal, citing research on student achievement, attendance, creativity, and the economic importance of the arts sector. The homeschool bill was supported by a homeschool advocacy group as a modernization of reporting requirements.
The committee closed testimony on numerous bills where no one remained signed up or testimony had concluded, including several education, curriculum, and commission proposals. No votes were taken during the hearing itself. At the end of the session, the committee closed out the remaining testimony and adjourned after a motion and second.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Local Government Committee Apr 29th, 2026
Local Government
Transcript Highlights:
- And so that particular section of fire safety is a really big concern when we face so much fire hazard
- that particular section of fire safety that is a really big concern when we face so much of fire hazard
- including fire districts, health care districts, public cemetery districts, water districts, geological hazard
- What was this low and what was the high?
- Every day workers put themselves out there high above the ground, around heavy materials and conditions
Committee:
Senate Local Government
Summary:
The Senate Committee on Local Government met to hear a long agenda of local government, housing, labor, and transparency bills. The committee first adopted the consent calendar for SB 1187 and SB 1388, then heard SB 983, which would authorize the Port of San Diego to use job order contracting for repairs and repetitive maintenance work. Supporters said the bill would speed emergency and small repairs and reduce costs, while opponents raised concerns about construction definitions and project labor agreement language. The bill was ultimately moved forward on a 2-2 vote after discussion of amendments and labor negotiations, and later the committee’s final roll call showed it passing out on a 5-2 vote.
The committee also heard SB 1256, aimed at limiting duplicative litigation over a San Diego County housing project, and SB 992, which would make permanent and expand a small special-district audit flexibility by raising the revenue threshold from $150,000 to $250,000. SB 1256 drew support from the author and project counsel, who argued the project had already been litigated and was delaying needed housing, while opponents said the bill would interfere with wildfire and subdivision-map review. SB 992 had support from county auditors and special districts, with no opposition, and was approved 5-0. SB 1115, addressing governance failures at the Tulare County Public Cemetery District by allowing county supervisors to remove an individual trustee for cause, also passed unanimously after testimony describing serious dysfunction and opposition from the California Special Districts Association.
The committee then took up SB 1193, which would impose transparency and approval requirements on Alameda County discretionary funding to nonprofits and other entities. The author and supporters described the bill as a response to grand jury findings and alleged conflicts of interest, while Alameda County argued its current process is already transparent and that the bill would add burdens and could harm services. After amendments and discussion, the bill passed 5-0. SB 1383, a density bonus law bill clarifying that local labor standards cannot be waived through density bonus concessions, was supported by labor groups and moved forward despite no opposition, with the final roll call showing it passing out 5-1. SB 1361, intended to prevent local governments from undermining transit projects because of SB 79 density concerns, also passed after support from L.A. Metro and labor and no formal opposition, with the final vote recorded as 5-2. The committee later resumed to hear SB 1272, the CASH Act, which would limit certain sanctions on homeowners for prior unpermitted work by previous owners; the transcript cuts off before that bill’s full testimony and vote.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Agriculture & Natural Resources Jan 22nd, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- That's probably for the staff, but fertilizer pays into the hazardous materials tax.
- Staff, but fertilizer pays into the hazardous materials tax.
- I'll take a look at the hazardous materials. Climate Commitment would be one possibility.
- However, using hydrogen to decarbonize fertilizer offers a very high climate benefit.
- So, you know, high kind of high competition, but thank you for the invitation. Any questions?
Summary:
The committee heard public testimony on Senate Bill 5816, which would add juice grapes to Washington’s Agricultural Marketing and Fair Practices Act. Staff explained that the bill would allow juice grape producers to form an accredited association to negotiate with processors under the same timelines used for pears, and the prime sponsor said the measure was intended to help growers obtain fairer prices. A grape grower testified that Washington producers face a small number of buyers, little real negotiation, and prices far below New York’s, arguing the bill would give growers a way to bargain collectively. The public hearing closed with 47 people noted in support and one in opposition.
The committee then heard Senate Bill 5971, which would create a green fertilizer incentive program for low-carbon nitrogen fertilizer production and use in Washington. Staff described the bill as directing WSDA to establish the program, adopt rules by 2028, and report to the Legislature, with costs shown in the fiscal note. The prime sponsor and several supporters, including Atlas Agro, a port representative, labor, NRDC, WSDA, the League of Women Voters, and the Washington State Potato Commission, said the bill could reduce greenhouse gas emissions, support local manufacturing and jobs, stabilize fertilizer supply and prices for farmers, and help Washington compete for federal clean hydrogen tax credits. WSDA said the program was implementable with consultation and that the Climate Commitment Act could be a funding source, though it noted rulemaking costs.
The committee then held a work session on commercial shellfish fee assessments after the Department of Health adopted major fee increases for shellfish licensing and certification. Shellfish growers and association representatives said the increases—described as ranging from roughly 233% to 789% overall, with some individual licenses rising much more—would hit small and family farms hardest, could force closures, and were based on a fee structure they said is outdated and not tied well to production. DOH explained that the program has long relied on general fund support, that federal shellfish safety requirements must be maintained, and that the new fees are intended to move the program toward full cost recovery after years without increases. The department said it had used a phased approach, reopened rulemaking to look for a fairer structure, and would continue working with industry and the Legislature; no vote was taken during the work session.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Children and Families Finance and Policy Committee 1/22/25
Children and Families Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- The state is investing high dollars to support an increased child care, yet family child care providers
- California, and the last thing I'll just say, California, you know, high taxes, high cost of living,
- high taxes High<00:58:08.400><c> Place</c><00:58:09.119><c> High</c><00:58:09.319><c> Cost</c><00:58:
- 09.520><c> of</c><00:58:09.680><c> Living</c><00:58:10.520><c> their</c> High Place High Cost of Living
- their High Place High Cost of Living their child<00:58:11.119><c> care</c><00:58:11.200><c> is</c><00
WA
Transcript Highlights:
- The number one profit eater is the high cost of labor in Washington State.
- And last in this packet, Senate Bill 6244, extending an existing hazardous substance tax exemption.
- families with children under the age of four, where high-potency synthetic opioids are a factor.
- have high rates of child fatalities and near fatalities.
- The fiscal note for the substitute bill came out. ...high-capacity transit projects.
Bills:
SB6147 , SB6082 , SB5862 , SB5882 , SB6323 , SB6346 , SB6162 , SB6256 , SB6220 , SB5650 , SB6343 , SB6113 , SB6211 , SB6114 , SB5898 , SB6347 , SB6244 , SB5868 , SB5762 , SB5988 , SB6194 , SB6246 , SB6223 , SB6052 , SB5828 , SB5954 , SB5963 , SB5909 , SGA9306
Committee:
Senate Ways & Means
Keywords:
grocery establishments, closure notice, consumer rights, local businesses, student financial aid, financial aid fraud, higher education, college enrollment fraud, fictitious students, ghost students, enrollment fraud, aid integrity, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, AI fraud, fraud prevention, Washington State, legislative audit, JLARC, full-time equivalent
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection - 02/27/25
Commerce and Consumer Protection
Transcript Highlights:
- <00:02:13.760><c> online</c> Many of the samples that have been collected from these stores tested high
- FDA and our organization have tested more than 500 products, which many of these products contained high
- ><c> of</c><00:04:42.479><c> of</c><00:04:42.680><c> mercury</c><00:04:43.600><c> over</c> contain high
- levels of of mercury over contain high levels of of mercury over the<00:04:44.039><c> years</c><00:04
- and it worked just fine as was too high and it worked just fine as far<00:17:00.639><c> as</c><00:17
Committee:
Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection
UT
Utah 2025 Regular Session
Transportation Interim Committee - November 20, 2025
Transportation Interim Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- Repeat offenders are 23% in FY25; there was as high as 30% in 2021.
- The alcohol-related ones are a little bit up, but still lower than the high in 22 as well.
- Hazardous materials, if that leaks into the dirt, that’s paid by liability insurance.
- You don't want to have high liability insurance because you don't drive it a lot.
- Same as we do with hazardous materials, right?
Committee:
Joint Transportation Interim Committee
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Notice required when deploying chemical irritants in a building 3/10/26
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- And at the time, I didn't realize the residue could still be that hazardous or that protective equipment
- still</c><00:03:40.799><c> be</c><00:03:41.599><c> uh</c><00:03:41.840><c> that</c><00:03:42.080><c> hazardous
- </c> residue could still be uh that hazardous residue could still be uh that hazardous or<00:03:43.440
- process for cleanup, families can feel pressured to accept whatever solution is offered first, even if hazardous
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development
Transcript Highlights:
- those employed by the largest, most sophisticated companies, are experiencing serious injuries at high
- The bill outlines several provisions to protect workers from heat-related hazards, such as access to
- Targets of workplace bullying are high-performing, and that's exactly why they get bullied.
- In the meantime, high blood pressure, anxiety attacks.
- High blood pressure, anxiety attacks, three medications, and finally I was diagnosed less than a year
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development held a lengthy hearing on June 18 focused on workers’ compensation, independent contractor and classification issues, workplace safety, warehouse worker protections, extreme temperature protections, retaliation against injured workers, and workplace bullying. Committee chairs outlined procedures for the hybrid hearing and noted that members would be leaving intermittently for floor votes. Testimony also touched on a bill to expand workers’ compensation disfigurement benefits by removing the current $15,000 cap and extending coverage beyond scars on the hands, neck, and face.
A major theme was workplace safety in warehouses and in extreme heat or cold. Teamsters, warehouse workers, and labor advocates described high injury rates, strict quotas, lack of water, inadequate ventilation, frozen or missing safety equipment, and pressure to work through heat waves and snowstorms. Supporters urged favorable reports on bills protecting warehouse workers and requiring employers to adopt heat- and cold-safety plans, while the NFIB opposed the temperature bill as overly prescriptive and burdensome for small businesses. Sen. Edwards, Sen. Roche, Rep. O’Day, and others argued that the measures are needed to prevent heat illness, provide shade, water, rest breaks, training, and emergency plans, and to cover all workers regardless of immigration status.
Another major subject was the “Act to Protect Injured Workers,” backed by labor groups, immigrant worker centers, legal services organizations, and individual workers. Witnesses said employers often retaliate after injuries by threatening deportation, lying about how injuries occurred, delaying care, or firing workers, and they supported stronger anti-retaliation enforcement, multilingual notices, and a rebuttable presumption of retaliation within 90 days of protected activity. The Mass AFL-CIO and immigrant advocacy groups supported the bill and opposed measures they said would weaken employee classification standards. Testimony also supported a funeral-benefits bill to raise workers’ compensation death-benefit reimbursement for burial and funeral costs, based on a family’s experience after a workplace fatality. The committee heard additional testimony on workplace bullying bills, with some witnesses urging a new legal duty for employers to prevent and respond to bullying, while others described the harms of toxic workplaces and the lack of effective remedies.
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
ECD Public Hearing - Wed Feb 12, 2025 @ 10:00 AM HST
Economic Development & Technology
Transcript Highlights:
- Natural Energy Institute, testified in the previous committee hearing on this that there are very high
- </c><00:17:33.919><c> associated</c> finally on the toxic hazards associated finally on the toxic hazards
- </c><00:17:50.840><c> levels</c><00:17:51.160><c> of</c> that there are very high levels of that there
- are very high levels of arsenic<00:17:52.000><c> chromium</c><00:17:52.520><c> and</c><00:17:52.640>
- Currently, the threshold is too high for them to be able to qualify.
Committee:
House Economic Development & Technology
Summary:
The Committee on Economic Development and Technology heard testimony on HB 976, a measure related to incentives for renewable fuels, including renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel. Supporters said the bill would help close the cost gap between renewable and conventional fuels, strengthen Hawaii’s energy security, support climate goals, and encourage local economic development. Testifiers from Pono Pacific, PAR Hawaii, Hawaiian Electric, Hawaiian Airlines/Alaska Airlines, the Hawaii Department of Transportation, Pacific Biodiesel, Aloha Carbon, and others described ongoing or planned projects, local feedstock development, and potential benefits for agriculture, waste diversion, and emissions reductions.
Several testifiers also discussed proposed amendments. The Hawaii Renewable Fuels Coalition said it wanted to remove the import tax credit, eliminate the aggregate cap increase to avoid additional state funding, and revise local-production language to rely on a carbon-intensity threshold rather than location-based preferences. The Tax Foundation of Hawaii raised technical concerns about the bill’s administration, including prorating credits if the cap is exceeded and the feasibility of a 30-day filing window. Some supporters urged keeping solid waste, including construction and demolition debris, as eligible feedstock, while Energy Justice Network opposed that approach and also urged removing GMO-related language and waste-based feedstocks because of environmental and toxic emissions concerns.
Opposition testimony focused on the bill’s cost and feasibility. Energy Justice Network and Ted Metros argued the measure could become a large subsidy for a refinery and questioned whether Hawaii has enough land and water to produce meaningful quantities of biofuel locally. Metros also criticized the refundable credit structure and said the state should not bear the cost for what he described as a benefit largely tied to tourism and imported fuel. No vote was taken during the portion of the hearing provided; the chair later noted the committee had received 13 testimonies in support, 18 in opposition, and seven comments, and then invited further discussion on cost allocation and lowering caps to broaden participation.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Labor and Employment Committee Jun 10th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- able to compete on a level playing field, and taxpayers should know their money is supporting lawful, high-quality
- Existing law prescribes skilled and trained workforce standards on a variety of high-risk public...
- Existing law prescribes skilled and trained workforce standards on a variety of high-risk public and
- catastrophic incident, extensive investigations, and concerns involving facilities already regulated as high-hazard
- What if we can now take next-level related industry when it comes to hazardous materials and jump on
Summary:
The Assembly Labor and Employment Committee heard several bills focused on worker protections, AI in the workplace, bereavement leave, and construction labor standards. SB 909 by Senator Smallwood-Cuevas would increase public works contractor registration fees, raise prevailing wage and related penalties, and direct half of collected penalties back into the Public Works Enforcement Fund. Supporters said the bill would help combat wage theft and misclassification and strengthen enforcement; opponents argued the higher fees and penalties would burden contractors without fixing enforcement backlogs. The committee voted the bill out on a due pass motion to Appropriations.
The committee also approved SB 951 by Senator Reyes, which would require 60-day notice when 25 or more workers are displaced by technology and require reporting on AI-related job impacts. Supporters framed it as a response to rapid AI-driven layoffs and a way to gather real-time data; opponents raised concerns about small employers, proprietary information, and litigation. SB 947 by Senator McNerney, the “No Robo Bosses Act,” would require human review of automated discipline, termination, or deactivation decisions and restrict predictive behavior analysis. Supporters said it would prevent biased or mistaken automated decisions; opponents objected to the inclusion of independent contractors, private rights of action, and other provisions. Both bills were advanced to the Committee on Privacy and Consumer Protection.
The committee also passed SB 1149 by Senator Durazo, which would expand bereavement leave to cover a “designated person,” including chosen family relationships. Supporters, including AARP and a witness who described losing a long-term partner, said the bill reflects modern family structures; there was no opposition. In addition, SB 1185 by Senator Cortese, applying skilled and trained workforce standards to pharmaceutical facility construction, was approved despite opposition from business and construction groups who said there was no demonstrated safety problem and that the mandate could raise costs and reduce competition. Several other bills on the consent calendar were also approved, and all measures were reported out of committee.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Floor Session May 22nd, 2026
California House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- directs the Insurance Commissioner to convene a working group by January 1, 2028, to incorporate hazard
- Many families are forced to travel long distances for treatment or pay high out-of-pocket costs just
- AB 1699 returns good fire to our landscapes, restoring tribal practices, reducing hazardous fuels, and
- Speaker and members, Assembly Bill 1904 would create a high-quality credentialing educational apprentice
- High 63, no zero. The measure passes. Pass and retainer on file items 138, 139, file item 140.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Mississippi River Parkway Commission 6/18/26
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- of executive director of Explore Minnesota Tourism and graduated with my daughter from Mounds View High
- So I know Lauren from View High School.
- It's a high-end Indian tour company.
- </c> that we can kind of offer a high-end that we can kind of offer a high-end experience,<00:19:59.920
- We want to keep operating at that phenomenally high level that we have.
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
Senate Executive Departments and Administration (02/11/2026)
Executive Departments and Administration
Transcript Highlights:
- part</c><00:11:38.240><c> of</c><00:11:38.399><c> the</c><00:11:38.560><c> border</c><00:11:38.880><c> dam
- </c> The first part of the border dam.
- Maybe because I learned to type in high school on a manual typewriter, and eventually I spent five years
MO
Transcript Highlights:
- That's a high priority for them. Thank you.
- I'm also a certified fire plan examiner and a certified hazard recognition specialist through the National
- These barriers separate occupancies, hazards, and areas with greater life safety consequences.
- These barriers separate occupancies, hazards, and areas with greater life safety consequences.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- So just a really high level, right? Actuarially sound rates is is... policy.
- So just a really high level, right?
- That’s a very high-level description from a non-actuary.
- It varies by wildfire hazard. They tend to stay longer in the lower wildfire hazard areas.
- We haven't really seen it in the high-risk, in the most high-risk areas, right?
Committee:
House Insurance
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Finance Division III (01/30/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- </c><00:16:07.120><c> School</c><00:16:07.360><c> age</c> out of five kids youth High School age out
- of five kids youth High School age youth<00:16:07.839><c> in</c><00:16:07.959><c> New</c><00:16:08.120
- school students up you were all high school students up there<00:16:17.319><c> think</c><00:16:17.519
- Could you hazard a guess on what percentage of kids in communities are just unserved?
- Can you hazard a number at capacity?
Summary:
House Finance Division III held an informational hearing with the Department of Health and Human Services focused on child and family services, children’s behavioral health, DCF, juvenile justice, and adult mental health. Before the presentation, members discussed scheduling a future site visit to Waypoint, including possible dates, mileage reimbursement logistics, and whether to reschedule the department’s developmental disabilities and healthy aging presentation because the associate commissioner was out sick. The department then outlined that it would concentrate on children’s behavioral health, DCF residential care and the Sununu Youth Services Center/YDC new build, and adult mental health, while noting the broader DHHS structure and the value of keeping related services under one leadership.
The department emphasized an integrated “system of care” approach and said it was trying to shift resources toward earlier, lower-intensity interventions rather than relying mainly on high-cost residential and acute services. It cited youth risk data showing roughly four in ten New Hampshire high school students feeling sad or hopeless and about one in five considering suicide in the past year, and said these trends worsened during the pandemic, peaking in 2021 and easing somewhat by 2023. Members asked how New Hampshire compared with neighboring states and about pre-COVID trends; the department said it would follow up with more exact data. The presentation also described a long-term policy effort beginning with federal funding in 2012, the state’s 10-year mental health plan, and later legislation aimed at strengthening children’s behavioral health and transforming juvenile justice so that youth with behavioral health needs are not routed into punitive systems first.
Members raised questions about out-of-state residential placement oversight and the statutory basis for inspections and follow-up. The department said the General Court had funded more “boots on the ground” oversight, in coordination with the Office of the Child Advocate, and agreed to provide a longer follow-up presentation on that topic after the governor’s budget is released. The department also described evidence-based prevention efforts, including home visiting programs such as Healthy Families America and a DCF-connected home visiting cohort for families already touching the child welfare system, as examples of trying to keep children out of deeper system involvement.
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
Senate - Health and Public Affairs Feb 9th, 2026 at 02:06 pm
Senate Health & Public Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- Does not apply to industrial zones with hazardous uses or prevent local regulation of traffic, noise,
- The high prices in Santa Fe lead to more demand for houses in Rio Rancho, Bernalillo County.
- The high prices in Santa Fe lead to more demand for houses in Rio Rancho, Bernalillo County, contributing
- The high cost of poor health coverage because of the lack of doctors is expensive.
- On the high end, if all of them were $200,000-cost residencies, which are the high-end ones, this would
Committee:
Senate Senate Health & Public Affairs
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Early Learning & Human Services Jan 27th, 2026 at 01:30 pm
Early Learning & Human Services
Transcript Highlights:
- limited to things such as physical abuse, emotional harm or neglect, exposure to chronic unsafe or hazardous
- conditions... ...harm or neglect, exposure to chronic unsafe or hazardous conditions, failure to provide
- Then we need to define what exposure to chronic, unsafe, or hazardous conditions means.
- data show that these incidents are occurring mostly among families who are assessed as moderate to high
- Children will remain in the same unsafe homes because the threshold for removal is still too high.
Committee:
House Early Learning & Human Services
Keywords:
child welfare, dependency, imminent physical harm, child abuse, neglect, foster care, extended foster care, shelter care, out-of-home placement, Department of Children, Youth, and Families, DCYF, family law, juvenile court, child protection, unsafe home, substance use, caregiver impairment, relative placement, guardianship, adoption
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> health hazards. health hazards. And<04:08:39.880><c> Mr.
- That can create a safety hazard, but it also gives you a cost.
- That can create a safety hazard grid.
- A high-conflict, high-stress environment with 400 adults with larger-than-average egos, we use colorful
- </c><06:02:53.480><c> plasma</c> prevents the high-temperature plasma prevents the high-temperature plasma